The Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul Nigeria’s education structure, citing the alarming rate of school dropouts caused by the separation of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS).

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Abuja.

Alausa said the existing arrangement has failed to deliver seamless access to education, revealing that more than 20 million children who enrolled in primary school dropped out before reaching senior secondary level.

According to the minister, Nigeria has about 80,000 public primary schools but only 15,000 junior secondary schools, creating a major transition gap that leaves millions of pupils without access to further education after primary school.

He explained that the policy separating JSS from SSS has contributed to overcrowding in junior secondary schools while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised.

“About 24 million children enrol in our primary schools, but only about four million complete senior secondary education. We have over 20 million children dropping out between primary school and junior secondary school. Where are those students?” he queried.

Alausa said the Tinubu administration was determined to reverse the trend and expand access to education by phasing out the policy.

“The previous governments may have failed in this regard, but this government will not fail. We are fixing this. We need to create more opportunities for children to move seamlessly through the education system.

“We have overflowing junior secondary schools and empty senior secondary schools. I can objectively report today that this disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that the proposal would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education for consideration and possible adoption.

He also inaugurated a high-powered committee chaired by education expert, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, to accelerate the completion, handover and operationalisation of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools funded by UBEC nationwide.

Alausa expressed concern that several completed projects remained abandoned or had not been handed over to state governments despite huge public investments.

“The purpose of these schools is to educate children, not to remain locked up after completion,” he said.

Earlier, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the Federal Government had made significant progress in expanding access to quality education through its specialised school programmes.

She revealed that 37 Smart Schools have been established across the country, with 24 already operational, while others are at different stages of completion and preparation for academic activities.

Garba also disclosed that 30 schools have been established under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme across nine states, while the Alternative Schools Programme is providing learning opportunities for vulnerable and out-of-school children through flexible education models.

She said the newly inaugurated committee would ensure timely completion of projects, address implementation challenges and guarantee that educational investments deliver meaningful outcomes for Nigerian children.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Prof. Aderinoye pledged to work diligently to remove obstacles delaying project delivery and improve access to quality education nationwide.

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The Federal Government has announced the removal of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination requirement for candidates seeking admission into Federal Colleges of Education across Nigeria, in a major reform aimed at expanding access to teacher education and technical training.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the policy shift on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board held in Abuja.

According to the minister, candidates applying for programmes in Federal Colleges of Education will no longer be required to sit for the UTME before gaining admission into the institutions.

The exemption, he explained, also covers applicants seeking admission into technology, agriculture, and other related programmes offered by the colleges.

O’Level Requirements Still Mandatory

Despite the removal of the UTME requirement, Alausa clarified that candidates must still possess the required O’Level qualifications for their chosen courses.

He added that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board would continue to oversee screening, documentation, verification, and admission placement processes for applicants.

The minister described the decision as part of broader efforts to improve access to teacher education and strengthen manpower development in critical sectors of the economy.

Major Shift in Nigeria’s Admission System

The policy marks a significant adjustment to Nigeria’s tertiary education admission framework, where UTME has remained the primary entrance examination into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education since its introduction in 1978.

Over the years, the examination has become highly competitive, with millions of candidates battling annually for limited admission opportunities.

However, education stakeholders have consistently argued that a single admission model may not adequately address the unique realities and academic needs of different tertiary institutions, especially colleges of education.

Low Enrolment Concerns

Federal Colleges of Education were established mainly to train teachers and award the Nigeria Certificate in Education, which remains the minimum qualification for teaching at primary and junior secondary school levels in Nigeria.

Although some colleges now run degree programmes through affiliations with universities, many institutions have continued to struggle with declining student enrolment, inadequate funding, and weak public perception compared to universities and polytechnics.

Reports from previous admission cycles showed that several colleges of education failed to fill their approved admission quotas, raising concerns about the future of teacher training in the country.

Experts Welcome Reform

Education analysts believe the removal of UTME could help reduce financial and procedural barriers preventing many students, particularly those from rural and low-income backgrounds, from pursuing teacher education.

Stakeholders have also linked the reform to Nigeria’s growing shortage of qualified teachers, especially in science, mathematics, vocational studies, and technical education.

The inclusion of agriculture and technology-related programmes in the exemption policy is also seen as part of government efforts to encourage practical skills acquisition, innovation, and economic diversification.

Calls for Improved Funding and Infrastructure

Despite welcoming the policy, stakeholders insist that expanding access alone will not solve the challenges facing colleges of education.

They called on the Federal Government to complement the reform with increased funding, improved infrastructure, better learning facilities, enhanced staff welfare, and stronger institutional support to maintain academic quality.

The policy meeting also featured discussions among education regulators and heads of tertiary institutions on admission benchmarks, institutional capacities, and guidelines for the 2026 admission process.

The latest announcement is expected to spark reactions across the education sector as Nigeria continues reforms aimed at widening access to tertiary education while improving quality and workforce development.

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The Federal Government has announced plans to invest N250 billion in building student hostels across tertiary institutions nationwide, in a move aimed at addressing the persistent accommodation crisis.

Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the launch of TETFund hostel projects at Lagos State University (LASU) and Yaba College of Technology.

He said the initiative reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving student welfare and investing in youth development.

Breakdown of the N250bn Plan

According to the Minister, the funding will be deployed across multiple hostel construction models:

N100 billion to build 500-bed capacity hostels in over 50 institutions

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model covering 24 institutions with 1,200–1,500 bed spaces each

Additional N96 billion through PPP contributions from private investors

N1 billion each to construct 300-bed hostels in another 24 institutions

He noted that the combined investments will deliver modern, high-standard accommodation facilities across both federal and state institutions.

PPP Model to Drive Expansion

Alausa explained that under the PPP arrangement, the government will contribute N1 billion per project, while private investors will provide up to N3 billion.

This model is expected to accelerate delivery and ensure sustainability in hostel management.

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is playing a central role in financing and coordinating the initiative.

Completion Timeline

The Minister assured that the projects are being fast-tracked to deliver immediate relief to students:

PPP hostel projects: 24 months completion period

Direct government-funded hostels: less than 12 months

He stressed that the goal is to quickly improve living conditions and reduce overcrowding in campuses.

Impact on Institutions

At LASU, Lagos State officials said the project would significantly reduce operational costs, especially in power supply.

The state government noted that improved infrastructure could save the institution millions annually on diesel and energy expenses.

Meanwhile, the Rector of Yabatech, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the accommodation shortage as severe.

He revealed that the institution currently has about 36,000 students but only 2,600 hostel bed spaces, with additional units undergoing renovation.

Addressing a National Challenge

Across Nigeria, student housing remains a major issue, forcing many students to seek expensive and often unsafe off-campus accommodation.

The Federal Government’s intervention is expected to ease pressure on institutions and improve learning environments.

Outlook

Analysts say the success of the N250 billion hostel programme will depend on timely execution, quality control, and effective collaboration with private sector partners.

If implemented as planned, the initiative could mark a significant step toward resolving Nigeria’s long-standing campus accommodation deficit.

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The Federal Government has reintroduced History as a compulsory subject from primary to senior secondary school sixteen years after it was removed

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa made the announcement on Wednesday via X post, saying the move will “strengthen national identity, unity, and patriotism.”

“For the first time in decades, Nigerian pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 to JSS3, while SSS1–3 students will take the new Civic and Heritage Studies, which integrates History with Civic Education,” the statement read.

According to the Ministry, Pupils will learn about Nigeria’s origins, heroes, culture, politics, economy, colonial rule, and post-independence governance, while junior secondary students will study ancient civilisations, trade, the 1914 amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.

“History is not merely a record of the past, but a vital foundation for shaping responsible and patriotic citizens,” they said, calling the move “a priceless gift to the nation, reconnecting children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.”

The Ministry said it has released the revised curriculum, will retrain teachers, and provide learning materials for smooth rollout nationwide.

History was removed in 2009 under the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration due to low enrolment and a shortage of teachers. Steps to revive it began in 2022 under former Minister Adamu Adamu.

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